Vichyunai group (Baltko)

The group supplies its products with the trademark "VIČI" ("Vici") to consumers in more than 40 countries of the world. The group of enterprises "Vichyunai" includes 47 enterprises from 17 countries of the world. The products are manufactured in six factories of the group. The group employs 6,500 workers.

Chilled and ice cream food products of the Vichyunai group of enterprises are made at its factories: In Plung (Lithuania) - ZAO "Plunges Cooperatine Prekiba" (UAB "Plungės kooperatinė prekyba ') In Plung (Lithuania) - CJSC "Vichyunai and partnering" (UAB "Vičiūnai ir partneriai ') In Plung (Lithuania) - ZAO "Valtik food partners" (UAB 'Baltic food partners') In Plunga (Lithuania) - ZAO "Plunges duona" (UAB "Plungės duona ') In Tallinn (Estonia) - AS "Paljassaare Kalatoostus" In Sovetsk (Russia) - OOO "Vichyunai RUS" ("Vičiūnai RUS ') In Santander (Spain) - S.L.U. "Sistemos Britor"

The "basket" of the group's products is more than 3 thousand items with trademarks "Vici" ("VIČI ')," Esva "(" Esva ")," Columbus "(" Columbus ") and other trademarks. 120 thousand tons of food products are produced per year.

Exports are to five regions: the Baltic, Western and Central Europe, Scandinavia, as well as Eastern Europe and Asia. 85% of all products sold are exports.

The group's trading companies promote the trademarks "Hortex," "McCain," "Nestle" and "Dujardin." Implementation is carried out in the HoReCa sector.

The group of enterprises "Vichyunai" is unique in business diversification.

The group belongs to: bakery, restaurant chain, car salons and services, group of logistics enterprises

History

2024: Ocean Group bought a crab stick factory near Kaliningrad from Viciunai

On April 8, 2024, it became known that the Lithuanian Viciunai Group, which produces Vici crab sticks, sold the Russian business. The buyer of the asset is the management company Ocean Group.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, citing a report by Vichyunai-Rus LLC, the deal to sell the Kaliningrad division of the Viciunai Group was approved by the Government Commission for Foreign Investment Control. Under the terms of the agreement, the rights of claims under loan and debt agreements totaling $29.4 million and €1.86 million will be transferred to the Russian management company Ocean Group.

Unsplash

Vichyunai-Rus produces crab sticks, imitation of crab meat, shrimp and semi-finished products at a plant in Sovetsk, Kaliningrad Region. The capacity of this enterprise exceeds 120 thousand tons per year. The beneficiaries of the company are Kaunas mayor Visvaldas Matijoshaitis and Ludas Skerus.

Ocean Group was established in St. Petersburg in June 2023. Kommersant, referring to informed sources, notes that this management company may act in the interests of a large importer and distributor of fish and seafood Unifrost, whose head office is also located in St. Petersburg.

Alexander Fomin, executive director of the Association of Fish Market Production and Trade Enterprises, believes that the acquisition of Vichyunai-Rus will allow the distributor to "strengthen vertical integration and expand sales channels." At the same time, Ilya Bereznyuk, Managing Partner of Agro & Food Communications, says that Vichyunai-Rus has modern facilities, has a wide range and a developed distribution network. The buyer will theoretically be able to expand the product range and engage in export development. Market participants also emphasize that crab sticks in Russia are in steady demand and provide good profitability.^[1]

Notes